Sega recently made known that Phantasy Star Online Version 2 was still Dreamcast-bound. Earlier today, Sega of America continued to allay fans' fears when they announced two important tidbits surrounding the game's release: a shipping date and an online payment plan.

PSO V.2 will be released in North America on September 11 for the Sega Dreamcast. In an official statement, Sega told reporters that, in order to play online, users, including current SegaNet subscribers, will be required to pay $15 for three months of unlimited service, "an online payment structure that will be easily accessible and affordable for US gamers." The original Phantasy Star Online will remain free to those who choose to continue playing it over SegaNet, as, of course, will offline play of Version 2. The pricing of the actual software has yet to be announced as Sega is still considering various pricing options.

In a related story, insiders have revealed that Sega is in talks with Nintendo concerning GameCube's online plans. This may mean that Sega will play a large role in realizing the system's network capabilities, culmanating with an online-playable version of PSO V.2 at the system's Fall launch. Speculation exists that an announcement concerning these Sega/Nintendo talks could emerge as soon as next month at Nintendo's Spaceworld show. Stick to RPGamer for future announcements about this possible partnership.